JOIN USRepair works turn City roads into death traps
The recent accident involving television actor Ashok Kumar, who died after falling into a pit dug by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has brought into light similar “perilous spots” across the City.
Mary S, a resident of Ejipura, maintains that the locality’s main road, once in good condition, has become messy because of the shifting of sanitary lines taken up by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).
The work has been going on for the last six months, as a result of which the road has become narrow and pothole-ridden.
Similar situations prevail at HSR Layout, Shanthinagar Main Road, Magrath Road, Ramachandrapura Main Road and Nagawara Main Road, where roads have been dug by the BBMP or BWSSB for development works.
Raghu Kumar, a resident of HBR Layout, said: “A few lanes in the locality are in a bad condition owing to works by Bescom and BWSSB. Residents are scared to walk on these roads.” Lack of coordination?
B Somashekar, Chairperson of the BBMP Committee for Major Works, recently inspected major junctions in the City where development works are in progress.
He pointed out that the delay on the part of the BWSSB in completing their projects sometimes create impediments to the Palike’s plans.
“For instance, on Magrath Road, work has been pending for three years now. In 2010, the Palike recieved the work order to carry out the re-laying of the stormwater drain. However, a BWSSB pipeline inside the culvert is damaged and has not yet been repaired. We cannot execute the work unless they repair it,” Somashekhar added.
Water pipeline work According to the BWSSB officials, every year about 100 km to 150 km of roads within the City limits are dug up for replacing and repairing water pipelines. Meanwhile, the Palike is planning to asphalt a total of 125 lanes in and around the City, at a cost of Rs 300 crore. “Repair of dug roads in the City is being delayed due to negligence of contractors or work taken up by civic bodies. This time, all precautions will be taken to ensure that road works meet the deadline,” said a Palike official.